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30 June 2010

8 Funny Posts 4 A Grin From Dennys Blogs - 30 June 2010

*** When times are tough what do you do? Laughter is the best stress reliever! Here are 8 posts from this week's posts at Denny's blogs for you to enjoy.



Cup of coffee from Brazil by il Quoquo @ flickr


From Denny: Between Colbert and Stewart, well, let's just say they have BP's shenanigans covered. Nothing gets past them!

In my ongoing effort to provide stress relief when the national conversation is so depressing - because of the BP Gulf Coast oil spill, a fragile economy and politicians who continually refuse to do right by the American people - we all need to keep laughing our way through these times until they get better. Trust that times will get better and they will. Until then, while we are in transition, we must develop coping skills for managing daily stress like making sure we are laughing often.

This is one of those times when it is true that "the pen is mightier than the sword" for the right kind of writing can bring relief to thousands in one moment over the internet. Pretty cool when you think about it. How many people can accomplish so much out of thin air? :)


Funny Smile Quotes - Cheeky Quote Day - 30 June 2010

Roundup of Late Night Funnies: BP Oil Spill, McChrystal Firing - 28 June 2010

Funny Video: Colbert Says McChrystal Had To Have Been High

Funny Video: Stewart Nails Republicans As Flip-Floppers On BP Escrow Fund

Funny Video: Colbert Lampoons Barton's BP Apology

Funny Video: Stewart Lampoons McChrystal's Balls For An Honorable Discharge

5 Funny Shorts: What Kids Think About Love and Life

Funny Video: Surfing Group Known as The Radical Rodents


*** THANKS for visiting, feel welcome to drop a comment or opinion, enjoy bookmarking this post on your favorite social site, a big shout out to awesome current subscribers – and if you are new to this blog, please subscribe in a reader or by email updates!

*** Come by for a visit and check out my other blogs:

The Social Poets
Dennys Global Politics
The Soul Calendar
Visual Insights
Beautiful Illustrated Quotations
Poems From A Spiritual Heart
The Healing Waters
Dennys Art Sanctuary
Romancing The Chocolate
Comfort Food From Louisiana
Unusual 2 Tasty
Dennys Blog Feeds
Dennys Funny Quotes
Ouch Outrageous Obnoxious And Odd

29 June 2010

Cake Tuesday: Red, White and Blue Independence Day Cake

*** Bake an unusual and patriotic attention-getting cake to wow your friends and family this Fourth of July!




Photo from White Lily Flour


From Denny: We eat with our eyes before we eat with our taste buds. This pretty patriotic cake sure gets your attention! Red, white and blue layers of cake are slathered with Marshmallow Buttercream Frosting and decorated with summer fresh blueberries and strawberries.

For a beginner baker - or if you are pressed for time and don't want to fuss with a difficult icing - this easy cake is for you. The cake layers are made from scratch and use buttermilk for great taste and texture, much like using sour cream in a cake or muffin.

When you finish icing the cake and have to wait a few hours before serving, hold off on the fruit garnish. With cakes like this I like to garnish with fruit as I serve the slices. That way you don't have to be concerned about the fruit starting to break down its juices and start to run watery all over your perfect cake and icing, sliding off like some summer park water slide! :)

Have a great Fourth of July weekend and thanks for visiting!





Independence Day Cake


From: White Lily Flour and The J.M. Smucker Co.

Makes: 12 servings

Ingredients:

Nonstick cooking spray
3-1/2 cups bleached all-purpose flour
2 cups sugar
1-1/2 tsps. baking powder
1-1/2 tsps. salt
1 tsp. baking soda
1-1/4 cups buttermilk
1-1/4 cups all-vegetable shortening OR 1ΓΈ sticks all-vegetable shortening sticks
5 large egg whites
1 tsp. vanilla extract
1 tsp. almond extract
1 tbl. red food coloring
1 tbl. blue food coloring

Garnish:

Fresh blueberries and strawberries, optional

Marshmallow Buttercream Frosting:

2 cups butter, softened
2-1/2 cups powdered sugar
1 tsp. almond extract
1 (13-oz.) jar marshmallow cream

Directions:

1. Heat oven to 350 degrees F. Coat three 8-inch round pans with nonstick cooking spray. Line bottom of pans with parchment paper, cut to fit. Coat paper with nonstick cooking spray.

2. Whisk together flour, sugar, baking powder, salt and baking soda in large bowl. Add buttermilk and shortening. Beat with electric mixer at medium speed for 2 minutes. Add egg whites, vanilla and almond extracts. Beat an additional 2 minutes, scraping sides of bowl as needed.

3. Pour ont-third (about 2 cups) of batter into prepared pan. Divide remaining batter into 2 medium bowls. Stir in food coloring to make one red and one blue batter. Pour batter into remaining pans. Tap pans on counter several times to remove air bubbles.

4. Bake 25 to 30 minutes, or until toothpick inserted near center comes out clean. Cool on wire rack 10 minutes before removing from pan. Remove cake and cool completely on wire rack.

5. For frosting, beat butter in a large bowl with electric mixer at medium speed until creamy. Gradually beat in sugar, 1/2 cup at a time, until fluffy. Beat in almond extract. Stir in marshmallow cream until well blended.

6. Place blue cake layer on cake plate and generously frost top. Stack white layer and generously frost top. Add red layer, frosting top and sides of entire cake. Garnish with fresh blueberries and strawberries, if desired.


*** Check out more recipes: Muffin Monday and Cake Tuesday

*** For more Fourth of July posts see also:

63 Quotes About Freedom and Liberty: Happy Birthday, America!

How Do We Live Freedom and Liberty? Libations Friday - 2 July 2010

Fourth of July When Life is Simple poem - Libations Friday 25 June 2010

Dennys Photo Gallery: Fourth of July Watermelon

Cake Tuesday: Red, White and Blueberry Shortcakes



*** THANKS for visiting, feel welcome to drop a comment or opinion, enjoy bookmarking this post on your favorite social site, a big shout out to awesome current subscribers – and if you are new to this blog, please subscribe in a reader or by email updates!

*** Come by for a visit and check out my other blogs:

The Social Poets
Dennys Global Politics
The Soul Calendar
Visual Insights
Beautiful Illustrated Quotations
Poems From A Spiritual Heart
The Healing Waters
Dennys Art Sanctuary
Romancing The Chocolate
Comfort Food From Louisiana
Unusual 2 Tasty
Dennys Blog Feeds
Dennys Funny Quotes
Ouch Outrageous Obnoxious And Odd

Cake Tuesday: Red, White and Blueberry Shortcakes

*** Patriotic AND tasty fresh berry shortcake dessert good any time in the summer heat!




From Denny: What a beautiful dessert! It's tasty, bursting with fresh berries and so easy to make. Shortcake is just a huge sweetened biscuit. Make sure to read through to the end of the recipe before you begin making this dessert as it will give you a great tip for making the perfect shortcake biscuit.

Shortcake is easy to portion for single servings so you can give your guests the amounts of whipped cream or berries they prefer. These shortcakes are light and fluffy and sure to be a bit hit with family and friends. Fresh berries, whipped cream and that perfect bite of cake will explode a fireworks of taste in your mouth! :)

Have a great Fourth of July weekend!






Red, White and Blueberry Shortcakes


From: Driscoll’s

Serves: 8

Ingredients:

2 cups all-purpose flour
1/3 cup granulated sugar
1 tbl. grated lemon zest
2 tsps. baking powder
1/2 tsp. baking soda
6 tbls. cold butter, cut into small pieces
1/2 cup buttermilk
4 tsps. coarse sugar crystals
1 (16-oz.) pkg. strawberries, hulled, sliced
1/2 cup powdered sugar, divided
1 tbl. lemon juice
1 cup cold whipping cream
1 (6-oz.) pkg. blackberries
1 (6-oz.) pkg. blueberries
1 (6-oz.) pkg. raspberries


Directions:

Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Combine flour, sugar, lemon zest, baking powder and baking soda in a large bowl.

2. Cut in butter, using a pastry blender or two knives until mixture resembles coarse crumbs.

3. Stir in buttermilk just until dry ingredients are moistened.

4. Place dough on a lightly floured surface. Knead gently 4 times. Pat or roll dough on lightly floured surface to 1/2-inch thickness.

5. Cut out 8 stars, using a 3-inch floured star cookie cutter. Place on ungreased baking sheet. Brush tops with water and sprinkle each with 1/2 teaspoon sugar crystals.

6. Bake 12 minutes or until golden brown. Cool on wire rack.

To make strawberry sauce: In a blender or food processor, puree 1 cup strawberries, 1/4 cup powdered sugar and lemon juice until smooth.

To make whipped cream: Beat with an electric mixer whipping cream and remaining 1/4 cup powdered sugar until thickened and soft peaks form.

To assemble: Toss remaining sliced strawberries, blackberries, blueberries and raspberries until blended in a large bowl. Using a serrated knife, cut shortcakes in half horizontally. Place the bottom of each shortcake on each of 8 dessert plates.

Drizzle each shortcake with 1 tablespoon strawberry sauce. Top each with a dollop of whipped cream and about 1/2 cup berries. Place top of shortcake over berries. Serve with remaining strawberry sauce.


Nutritional analysis per serving: 408 calories, 20.3 grams fat, 64.82 milligrams cholesterol, 601.12 milligrams sodium and 3.56 grams fiber.

To lighten: Instead of using whipped cream, dollop with frozen thawed fat-free prepared whipped topping.

Helpful tip: Cutting cold butter into the flour makes little crumbs of fat that produce light, flaky shortcakes. A light stirring and kneading of the dough makes the flakiest shortcakes.


*** Check out more recipe posts: Recipes: Muffin Monday and Cake Tuesday

*** For more Fourth of July posts see also:

63 Quotes About Freedom and Liberty: Happy Birthday, America!

How Do We Live Freedom and Liberty? Libations Friday - 2 July 2010

Fourth of July When Life is Simple poem - Libations Friday 25 June 2010

Dennys Photo Gallery: Fourth of July Watermelon

Cake Tuesday: Red, White and Blue Independence Day Cake



*** Photo from Driscoll


*** THANKS for visiting, feel welcome to drop a comment or opinion, enjoy bookmarking this post on your favorite social site, a big shout out to awesome current subscribers – and if you are new to this blog, please subscribe in a reader or by email updates!

*** Come by for a visit and check out my other blogs:

The Social Poets
Dennys Global Politics
The Soul Calendar
Visual Insights
Beautiful Illustrated Quotations
Poems From A Spiritual Heart
The Healing Waters
Dennys Art Sanctuary
Romancing The Chocolate
Comfort Food From Louisiana
Unusual 2 Tasty
Dennys Blog Feeds
Dennys Funny Quotes
Ouch Outrageous Obnoxious And Odd

Cake Tuesday: Shenandoah Apple Cake

*** Enjoy an easy to make old-fashioned cake with links to 2 more similar recipes!




This is an apple and pear cake with the link to the recipe after the post


From Denny: Apple cake is one of those first cakes a beginner baker learns to make because it is so tasty for breakfast, a weekend brunch or an afternoon snack with a cup of coffee or tea. At our house we like fruit desserts like fruit pies and fruit cakes.

Also, on the health side, when you eat fruit in a sugary dessert the fruit helps minimize the effects of sugar causing that roller coaster ride for the blood sugar that can leave you depleted of energy a few hours later. So, if you like sweets - but have some issues breaking away from too much sugar in your diet - this fruit in a sugary dessert helps you work your way out of it. If you don't have any issues with too much sugar in your diet, just enjoy! :)

When I make apple cake in the summer I like to add 1/2 teaspoon freshly ground nutmeg to the cinnamon. When I make this cake in the fall I add 1/4 teaspoon of ground cloves to the cinnamon. Nutmeg is lighter and fresher to the senses just perfect for the spring and summer. Cloves as a spice is mysterious and warm in sensation.

It is an extremely strong spice so don't add more as the spice can take over the flavor of a dish. Using cloves as a background hint does wonders for more than baked goods. I use it in marinara and spaghetti sauces and even when I make oatmeal for breakfast. Here in Louisiana we use ground cloves in our seafood boil seasonings too. There is more to the clove spice than just studded in the fat to bake a ham! It's sweetness is versatile when used with a very light hand.

In my ongoing effort to promote small business over Big Business I'm featuring this Virgina bed and breakfast inn today. Considering that the Fourth of July is this weekend, what could be more patriotic than to remember the earliest history of America? This inn dates back to 1740! It once stood on the American frontier and has been restored to 12 guest rooms for gracious comfortable country living.





Restored inn from Colonial times on the Shenandoah River in Virginia

From the website of The Inn at Narrow Passage: Our historic 1740 Shenandoah Valley bed and breakfast is the perfect place to relax and enjoy the beauty and history of the Valley of this special location between the Blue Ridge Mountains and the Alleghenies.

Once a haven against Indian attacks on the Virginia frontier and later Stonewall Jackson’s headquarters during the Valley Campaign of 1862, our Shenandoah Valley inn now welcomes travelers looking for comfortable lodging and friendly hospitality.

On Route 11 (the Old Valley Turnpike), only two miles from Interstate 81 at Woodstock, our Virginia Bed & Breakfast inn has a real country atmosphere. We are located five private acres along the Shenandoah River. The Inn offers 12 guest rooms, a well-equipped meeting room for small executive retreats, many common areas, and lovely grounds to host your wedding.

*** Recognized for "Excellence in Preservation 2007" by the Shenandoah Preservation League

*** Selected by National Geographic Traveler as one of 150 hotels and inns in North America that "Celebrate their Sense of Place" (April, 2008)






This is an apple and pear cake with the link to the recipe after the post



Shenandoah Apple Cake

The Inn at Narrow Passage
Ellen and Ed Markel, owners and innkeepers
50 Chapman Landing Road (P.O. Box 608)
Woodstock, Virginia 22664

Email: innkeeper@narrowpassage.com
Phone: 540-459-8000 ~ Toll Free: 800-459-8002


Shenandoah Apple Cake

Ingredients:

5 apples, pared, cored, and thinly sliced
5 tbsp. granulated sugar
2 tbsp. cinnamon
4 eggs
2 c.sugar
3 c. flour
1 c. oil
3 tsp. baking powder
2 + 1/2 tsp. vanilla
Juice of one orange (1/4 c.)

Directions:

Mix first three ingredients together and set aside.

Beat eggs with sugar, add oil, flour, baking powder, vanilla, and orange juice.
Beginning with batter, alternate layers in a greased and floured ring pan, ending with batter.

Save some apples to decorate the top. Bake at 350 degrees for 1 hr. and 10 min. Cool on a wire rack and remove from pan. Sprinkle with confectioners sugar before serving, if desired.


*** See Also from Smitten Kitchen: Mom's Apple Cake

*** See Also: Here's what you do when you only have 2 apples and some pears to make the same cake, go here.

*** See Also: Muffin Monday and Cake Tuesday recipe links

*** Photo of apple and pear cake by joyocity @ flickr

*** THANKS for visiting, feel welcome to drop a comment or opinion, enjoy bookmarking this post on your favorite social site, a big shout out to awesome current subscribers – and if you are new to this blog, please subscribe in a reader or by email updates!

*** Come by for a visit and check out my other blogs:

The Social Poets
Dennys Global Politics
The Soul Calendar
Visual Insights
Beautiful Illustrated Quotations
Poems From A Spiritual Heart
The Healing Waters
Dennys Art Sanctuary
Romancing The Chocolate
Comfort Food From Louisiana
Unusual 2 Tasty
Dennys Blog Feeds
Dennys Funny Quotes
Ouch Outrageous Obnoxious And Odd
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